Forbes
by Robin Seaton Jefferson

In January, Robert J. Pignolo, MD, PhD, of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, published a review of literature on exceptional longevity in the clinical journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings. In it he held that “the basis for exceptional longevity is multi-factorial and involves disparate combinations of genes, environment, resiliency and chance, all of which are influenced by culture and geography.” Pignolo examined how studying the oldest old may give credence to the biological and environmental characteristics of those who seem to defy the odds.

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Context: In Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Robert Pignolo, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and the Robert and Arlene Kogod Professor of Geriatric Medicine, reviews current literature to determine factors of longevity and what steps people can take to live healthier lives.

While genetics play a large part in determining human life span, research has found that environmental influences can have an even greater impact. A review of studies on longevity suggests that only 25 percent of aging can be traced back to a person’s genes. “This finding strongly suggests that behavior, environment and health practices can profoundly affect the potential for long life,” says Dr. Pignolo. You can read more about the study on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Emily Blahnik

Tags: aging, Dr. Robert Pignolo, Forbes, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, resilency, Uncategorized